After a slight mix up due to our guide having been given the wrong itinerary (!) we were back on track with only the schedued one night in Bonkro and an afternoon visit to Bobiri.
Leaving the guesthouse we had a showy Blue-headed Coucal near our cabins before we drove the short distance to the nearby Kwabena Sam Forest and began an extended walk along another muddy and puddled track. Our targets of Afep Pigeon and Bronze-naped Pigeon were nowhere to be seen but what we did see more than compensated. Initially 2 Red-fronted Parrots flew along the road and a Black Cuckoo showed distantly but well and made up for untickable views at Ankasa. Along the main track we went on to find African Emerald Cuckoo, Blue Cuckooshrike, Usshers Flycatchers, Tambourine Dove, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Klass's Cuckoo, Velvet-mantled Drongo and Yellow-mantled Weaver. Some lovely perched views of Long-tailed Hawk stole the show however and as we reached a slightly more open area Congo Serpent Eagle and African Cuckoo Hawk both fell in quick succession - a real purple patch! We then came to a large wide ride cut through the forest which was being cultivated by local villagers. A walk along the wide stretch yielded some great birds again with 4 Grosbeak Weavers, a very showy Black-throated Coucal, 4 Blue-throated Rollers, 2 Little Green Sunbirds, Red-headed Malimbe, Cassin's Honeyguide and White-throated Bee-eaters.
The afternoon session was at Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary after a drive north via the city of Kumasi. Along the entrance track to the reserve centre here we scored with c15 Red-billed Helmetshrikes, Honeyguide Greenbul, Sharpe's Apalis, Green Crombec, Little Green Sunbird, Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Buff-throated Sunbird, White-breasted Nigrita, Maxwell's Black Weaver and best of all in terms of rarity Yellow-footed Honeyguide. Continuing beyond the centre we encountered the biggest ant swarm I've ever seen (literally millions completely covering the track) but emerged the other side after much swearing and slapping of legs! Our quarry were roosting parrots and after we found a good gap in the trees allowing viewing we saw c6 African Grey Parrots and c4 Red-fronted Parrots. The former in particular were very pleasing being endangered due to illegal trapping for the pet trade.
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